One word can change everything. Just one little simple word. It’s amazing really that all this time I refused to talk out of fear when the answer to my problems was the exact opposite. I had to speak in order for anything to change. Telling anyone and everyone until someone listened to me. I should have never stopped after the Sunday school teacher. Maybe if I hadn’t stopped then I might not be sitting in a hospital right now waiting to find out if Nancy is going to make it. I should have stood up to him sooner.

Ashley hasn’t left my side since they took him away in handcuffs. They believed me and not just because of the hospital report of my injuries either. The officer that took my report told me that a dozen or so news vans are parked outside the hospital. Apparently, someone tipped them off that I’ve reappeared, and that the Rev. Earl T James was arrested.

Overall, it has been an interesting night.

"Has there been anymore news?" Ashley asks after she hands me a coffee. She went to get us both a couple of coffees.

"No. They said she was going into surgery again tonight. The internal bleeding hasn’t stopped." Wiping away a few tears, I take a sip of my drink. I’m really scared that I’m going to lose her.

"She’ll be fine Spence. She’s a fighter." Somehow, she knows what I need that very moment. Ash pulls me into her giving me warmth and love. With her arms wrapped around me, I feel protected and safe like nothing bad can happen.

Leaning my head on her shoulder, I take in the scent that is Ashley alone. "You think so?"

"Know so." She pulls me in closer to her body. "Tell me about a happy memory." She whispers into my ear and places a kiss to my temple.

"What do you want to know? I don’t remember a lot from before." I say ashamed.

"Whatever you want."

"Okay"

"I was eight years old, and my mom and dad decided to take all of us to the lake for a picnic."